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The Eglevsky Ballet

Andre' Eglevsky was born in Moscow, but moved as a youth to France. He was educated in a French high school, and studied ballet with Maria Nevelskaya in Nice; Lubov Egorova, Mathilde Kchessinska, Alexandre Volinine and Leon Woicikowski in Paris; Nicholas Legat in London; and the School of American Ballet in New York. He joined Col.de Basil's Ballet Russe at the age of fourteen, and six months later danced leading roles in Swan Lake, Les Sylphides, Les Pre'sages and many more ballets. In 1935 he became premier danseur, along with Igor Youskevitch, in Ballet Russe de Leon Woicikowski. In 1936 he joined the Rene' Blum's Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.

Eglevsky came to the United States in 1937 and danced at Radio City Music Hall and in the Broadway musical, Great Lady. In 1937 and 1938 he was premier danseur of George Balanchine's American Ballet. He became an American citizen before joining Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in 1939, where he remained until 1942. From 1942 to 1946 he was a star of Ballet Theatre, what we know now as American Ballet Theater. He was also a guest star in 1944 and 1945 with Leonide Massine's Ballet Russe Highlights. Eglevsky joined the Original Ballet Russe, directed by Col. de Basil, in 1946 and 1947 he became premier danseur of the Grand Ballet de Monte Carlo, directed by Marquis George de Cuevas. From 1951 to 1958 he danced as principal danseur for George Balanchine's New York City Ballet. Andre' Eglevsky created roles in Fokine's L 'Epreuve and Don Juan in 1936; Lichine's Helen of Troy in 1942; his own Sentimental Colloquy in 1944; Balanchine's Pas de Trois, Capriccio Brillante and Swan Lake in 1951; Caracole, Scotch Symphony, and Harlequinade Pas de Deux in 1952; Western Symphony and Pas de Dix in 1954; and Waltz Scherzo in 1958. Eglevsky partnered every famous ballerina from Vera Nemtchinova in the early 1930's to Maria Tallchief in the late 1950's.

After retiring from the New York City Ballet, Eglevsky and his wife, the ballerina Leda Anchutina Eglevsky whom he had married in the late 1930's, opened a school in Massapequa, Long Island called the Eglevsky School of Ballet and formed the Eglevsky Ballet Company.

Eglevsky was often acclaimed as the greatest male dancer of his generation, and was the guiding creative force behind the company's growth. The Eglevsky Ballet remains the only professional ballet company on Long Island. For over four decades the company has grown and prospered, receiving rave critical reviews, under the direction of Edward Villella and Michael Vernon. It has garnered financial support from the National Endowment of the Arts, The New York State Council on the Arts, the Nassau County Office of Cultural Development, various town councils, as well as corporate sponsors. The Eglevsky Ballet is presently engaged in an exciting transformation under its current Acting Director, Marina Eglevsky.